Menstrual calendar



Oct. 18, 1966 Filed April 21, 1965 L. M. SHERMAN 3,279,696

MENSTRUAL CALENDAR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 DAY INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE M. SHERMAN EK A W Oct. 18, 1966 M. SHERMAN MENSTRUAL CALENDAR I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 21, 1965 INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE M. SHERMAN W W a M 1. M. SHERMAN MENSTRUAL CALENDAR Oct. 1 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 21, 1965 28 DAY FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE M. SHERMAN Oct. 18, 1966 L. M. SHERMAN 3,279,696

MENSTRUAL CALENDAR Filed April 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IINVENTOR.

LAWRENCE M. SHERMAN ita Maw United States Patent 3,279,696 MENSTRUAL CALENDAR Lawrence M. Sherman, 209 Maple St., Needham, Mass. Filed Apr. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 449,719 4 Claims. (Cl. 23588) This application relates to an improved menstrual calendar and is a continuation-in-part of Serial Number 403,- 192, filed Gctober 12, 1964.

The menstrual calendar disclosed in my copending application comprised two circular discs of slightly different radii which were rotatably secured in superposed relation. The larger or bottom disc was circumferentially divided into twelve monthly increments which in turn were subdivided into daily increments. The smaller or upper disc was circumferentially divided into increments of progressively increasing angular length which represented correspondingly longer menstrual cycles. Indices were provided at the beginning and end of each menstrual cycle to facilitate setting the upper disc menstrual cycle scale with respect to the bottom disc calendar scale. The menstrual calendar was operated by setting the index mark at the beginning of the appropriate shortest menstrual cycle length opposite the date on the bottom calendar disc representing the commencement of the present menstrual cycle. After this single operation had been performed, the date of the earliest onset of the next menstrual cycle could be read directly from the calendar by observing the date opposite the index mark at the end of the selected shortest menstrual cycle length.

The menstrual calendar disclosed in my copending application thus provided a simple and inexpensive apparatus for determining the earliest onset of a womens next succeeding menstrual period. However, it was found that the physical construction of the calendar discs, themselves, together with the relative placement of the oatamenial information tended to introduce an undesirable operator error factor in the use of the calendar. For example, since all of the shortest menstrual cycle length increments were visible on the menstrual calendar, it was possible to inadvertently set the wrong index mark opposite the commencement day of the present cycle thereby obtaining an erroneous indication of the earliest onset of the next succeeding cycle. Similarly, even if the calendar was correctly set with respect to the commencement date, the user might accidentally read the wrong end of cycle index thereby also obtaining an erroneous indication of the earliest onset of the next menstrual cycle.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved menstrual calendar of the general type disclosed in my previously mentioned copending application wherein only one selected shortest menstrual cycle length is visible to the user when the calendar is in its operative position.

It is another object of the present invention to display only the beginning and end of cycle index marks associated with the selected shortest menstrual cycle length.

It is a feature of the present invention that the aforementioned objects are achieved without sacrificing the operating simplicity of the menstrual calendar disclosed in my copending application and without substantially increasing the cost of manufacturing the calendar.

These objects and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration, and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an improved menstrual calendar showing the relationship of the twelve month calendar scale, menstrual cycle length scale, and notched cover disc;

Patented Oct. 18, 1966 FIG. 2 is a plan view of the twelve month calendar disc;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the menstrual cycle length disc; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the notched cover disc.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in plan view in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the improved menstrual calendar constructed in accordance with the present invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The construction and operation of the improved menstrual calendar can best be understood by examining the assembled preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 in connection with FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 which depict the major individual components of the invention. Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the improved menstrual calendar 10 has two relatively movable scales 12 and 14 which represent, respectively, a twelve month calendar and a plurality of menstrual cycle lengths of progressively increasing cycle duration. By moving the menstrual cycle length scale 14 with respect to the calendar scale 12, any selected cycle length can be set opposite any calendar day to provide an automatic indication of the earliest commencement of the next succeeding menstrual period.

It will be apparent that the two movable scales 12 and 14 can be constructed in a variety of functional equivalent geometrical configurations, such as, linear, cylindrical or circular. Although the circular or disc configuration of the improved menstrual calendar 10 is depicted in figures, it should be understood that this embodiment is selected only for purposes of illustration and that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown therein. Thus, the following description of the disc embodiment of the improved menstrual calendar depicted in the figures is applicable, with certain obvious modifications, to the other geometrical configurations of the menstrual calendar.

As stated above, the major components of the improved menstrual calendar 10 are shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 and comprise three circular discs 16, 18 and 20 which are rotata-bly secured in superposed relation by a pivot 22. The three discs can be constructed of any suitable material including heavy paper board, metal or plastic. In selecting the type of material for the menstrual calendar, the following factors will normally be considered: cost of raw materials; relative ease of printing the calendar and cycle length and scales on the selected disc material; the appearance of the finished product; and, the nature of the ultimate distribution market. It should be noted, however, that the particular type of material employed in the construction of the calendar is not really important provided the selected material has a sufiiciently long life expectancy to fulfill the intended ultimate end use of the calendar.

Looking now at FIGS. 1 and 2, the largest or bottom disc 16 contains the month-day calendar portion of the improved calendar. This disc is circumferentially divided into twelve monthly increments 24 which are subdivided into daily increments 26. Collectively, the respective monthly and daily increments 24 and 26 comprise the previously mentioned month-day calendar scale 12. It can be seen from an inspection of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the monthly increments 24 vary in angular length in accordance with the number of days in each month while the daily increments 26 are of uniform angular length.

The intermediate disc 18, which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, is also circumferentially divided into a plurality of shortest menstrual cycle length increments 28 e.g., twenty-two through thirty-one days, which have the same angular length as the corresponding number of daily increments 26 on the bottom disc 16. Each shortest menstrual cycle increment 28 is separated from the preceding and succeeding menstrual cycle increments by an interval 30 having a predetermined angular length with the parameters shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, that is, a twelve month calendar and shortest cycle length increments varying from twenty-two days through thirty-one days, the angular length of interval 30 will correspond to the angular length of ten daily increments 26 on the bottom dis-c calendar scale.

It will be apparentthat the circumferential lengths of the intermediate disc menstrual cycle length increments 28 and intervals 30 are smaller than the corresponding angular units on the bottom disc because of the different radial dimensions of the two discs. The radial length of the intermediate disc 18 is controlled by the size of the bottom disc 16 and must be sufiiciently smaller than the radius of the bottom disc to permit the circumferential calendar portion of the bottom disc to be visible when the two discs are assembled in superposed relationship as shown in FIG. 1. Since the radial length of the bottom disc 16 determines the overall size of the improved menstrual calendar 10, this dimension preferably should be as small as possible without sacrificing any of the desired features, such as, ease of manipulation and scale legibility. It has been found that a bottom disc radius of approximately 2% to 2 /2 inchesfulfills these requirements.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, it can be seen that the upper disc 20 has a radial length which is slightly greater than the radial length of the intermediate disc 18 and slightly less than the radial length of the lower disc 16. However, it should be noted that the radial length of the upper disc is not uniform around the circumference of the disc. For a predetermined angular distance, the upper disc 20 has a reduced radius portion which defines an indentation or window 32 through which can be seen a portion of the underlying intermediate and lower discs 18 and 16, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. The angular distance of the upper disc window 32 is limited by the combined angular width of the numerically largest menstrual cycle increment 28 and the associated menstrual cycle increment intervals 30. Thus, the width of window 32 must be suificient to expose the numerically largest menstrual cycle increment 28 and a portion of the associated intervals 30 without at the same time exposing more than one menstrual cycle increment when the calendar is set for the numerically smallest menstrual cycle increment. If the angular distances are properly selected, only one shortest menstrual cycle increment 28 will be visible in the window for each setting of a selected shortest menstrual cycle increment.

The operation of the improved menstrual calendar is relatively simple and can be performed by persons of limited experience without requiring extensive instruction. Briefly stated, the improved menstrual calendar 10 is operated by rotating the intermediate disc 18 with respect to the upper disc 20 until only the selected shortest menstrual cycle increment 28 is visible in the window 32. The relative rotation of thetwo discs can be easily accomplished because suitable gripping means, such as a finger tab 34 and circumferential serrations 36 are provided on the discs.

Assuming now that the improved menstrual calendar 10 is in its operative position with only the desired shortest menstrual cycle increment 28 visible in window 32, the two discs i.e., the intermediate and upper discs, are rotated as a unit by means of tab 34 until the selected shortest cycle is opposite the appropriate portion of the lower disc calendar scale 12. The setting of the selected shortest menstrual cycle increment 28 with respect to the month-day calendar is greatly facilitated by indices 40 which are provided at the beginning and end of each cycle increment 28. Preferably, the indices 40 have a distinctive shape, such as for example, the diamond pattern illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 and a color which is easily distinguishable from the background color of the bottom disc calendar scale 12.

In order to prevent the two discs from slipping relative to each other once the selected shortest cycle has been set in window 32, the rear surface of the upper disc 20 and the underlying front surface of the intermediate disc 18 are roughened or otherwise treated to provide sufiicient frictional engagement between the two discs. Alternatively, rubber washers (not shown) can be placed on both sides of the intermediate disc 18.

Looking now at FIG. 1, it can be seen that a twentyeight day shortest menstrual cycle increment has been selected and placed in the operative position within window 32. Once the improved menstrual calendar has been set for the users shortest menstrual cycle only a single adjustment is then necessary to provide a direct reading of the date of the earliest onset of the next menstrual cycle. For example, if the present cycle commenced on the 16th day of June, the beginning-of-cycle index for the selected twenty-eight shortest cycle is set opposite June 16th on the lower disc calendar scale 12 by rotating the intermediate and upper discs as explained above. When the beginning-of-cycle index 40a is set to the correct date as shown in FIG. 1, the corresponding end-of-cycle index 401) will automatically indicate the date of the earliest onset of the next menstrual cycle i.e., July 14th. Thus, for any given cycle duration, only one adjustment or setting of the improved menstrual calendar is required to obtain desired information.

Having described a preferred embodiment of the improved menstrual calendar, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that'numerous modifications can be made to the calendar without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is: Y

1. A menstrual calendar comprising: a bottom disc having the circumference thereof divided into twelve angular increments representing the calendar months, said monthly increments being subdivided into daily increments; an intermediate disc of smaller radius than said bottom disc having the circumference thereof divided into a plurality of uniformly spaced increments of progressively increasing angular distance representing shortest menstrual cycles of increasing duration, said shortest menstrual cycle increments each having a beginningofcycle index and an end-of-cycle index; and upper disc having a radial length intermediate of the radial length of said intermediate, and bottom discs and a reduced radius portion defining an indentation in the circumference of said upper disc through which a selected shortest menstrual cycle increment and a portion of said monthly and daily calendar increments are visible when said discs are assembled in superposed relation, said reduced radius portion having a predetermined angular distance sufiicient to expose the longest selected cycle increment without exposing more than one selected cycle increment when the calendar is set for the shortest cycle increment; and, means for securing said discs in superposed relation for rotation about a common axis.

2. A menstrual calendar comprising: a bottom disc having the circumference thereof divided into twelve angular increments representing the calendar months, said monthly increments being subdivided into daily increments; an intermediate disc of smaller radius than said bottom disc having the circumference thereof divided into a plurality of uniformly spaced increments of progressively increasing angular distance representing shortest menstrual cycles of increasing duration, said shortest menstrual cycle increments each having a beginning-of-cycle index and an end-of-cycle index; a finger tab integrally fabricated with said intermediate disc and extending beyond the circumference thereof; a serrated edged upper disc having a radial length intermediate of the radial length of said intermediate and bottom discs and a reduced radius portion defining an indentation in the circumference of said upper disc through which a selected shortest menstrual cycle increment and a portion of said monthly and daily calendar increments are visible when said discs are assembled in superposed relation, said reduced radius portion having a predetermined angular distance suflicient to expose the longest selected cycle increment without exposing more than one selected cycle increment when the calendar is set for the shortest cycle increment; and, means for securing said discs in superposed relation for rotation about a common axis.

3. The menstrual calendar according to claim 1 further characterized by said beginning and end of cycle indexes each comprising a pointer that extends outwardly beyond the circumference of said intermediate disk for a predetermined distance, said distance being selected so that said indexes overlap a portion of said lower disk monthly and daily increment scales without extending beyond the circumference of said upper disk.

4. The menstrual calendar of claim 1 further characterized by said upper disk having a radial length sufiicient to expose only a preselected number of daily increments on said lower disk when said lower, intermediate and upper disks are assembled in superposed relation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1916 Serrell.

12/1937 Mayfield 235-84 3/1948 Willcox 23564.7 X

5/ 1948 Lichter 235-84 6/1950 Boutwell 23588 10/1952 Sorrels 23588 11/1956 Studebaker 23584 2/1960 Bakke et al 23564.7 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 4/ 1951 Germany.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, Examiner.

20 C. G. COVELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MENSTRUAL CALENDAR COMPRISING: A BOTTOM DISC HAVING THE CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF DIVIDED INTO TWELVE ANGULAR INCREMENTS REPRESENTING THE CALENDAR MONTHS, SAID MONTHLY INCREMENTS BEING SUBDIVIDED INTO DAILY INCREMENTS; AN INTERMEDIATE DISC OF SMALLER RADIUS THAN SAID BOTTOM DISC HAVING THE CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF INVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF UNIFORMLY SPACED INCREMENTS OF PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING ANGULAR DISTANCE REPRESENTING SHORTEST MENSTRUAL CYCLE OF INCREASING DURATION, SAID SHORTEST MENSTRUAL CYCLE INCREMENTS EACH HAVING A BEGINNING-OFCYCLE INDEX AND AN END-OF-CYCLE INDEX; AND UPPER DISC HAVING A RADIAL LENGTH INTERMEDIATE OF THE RADIAL LENGTH OF SAID INTERMEDIATE AND BOTTOM DISCS AND A REDUCED RADIUS PORTION DEFINING AN INDENTATION IN THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID UPPER DISC THROUGH WHICH A SELECTED SHORTEST MENSTRUAL CYCLE INCREMENT AND A PORTION OF SAID MONTHLY AND DAILY CALENDAR INCREMENTS ARE VISIBLE WHEN SAID DISCS ARE ASSEMBLED IN SUPERPOSED RELATION, SAID REDUCED RADIUS PORTION HAVING A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO EXPOSE THE LONGEST SELECTED CYCLE INCREMENT WITHOUT EXPOSING MORE THAN ONE SELECTED CYCLE INCREMENT WHEN THE CALENDAR IS SET FOR THE SHORTEST CYCLE INCREMENT; AND, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID DISCS IN SUPERPOSED RELATION FOR ROTATION ABOUT A COMMON AXIS. 